Low temperature AOP studies for spent reverse osmosis module components

ABSTRACT

Membrane-based separations are becoming popular and membrane technology using reverse osmosis (RO) is long established as a large-scale industrial membrane process for desalination. Membranes need to be managed after its life cycle. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for aqueous organic waste handling are known and are being practiced in industries. The effectiveness of various AOPs based on hydrothermal process techniques to liquefy and depolymerize the different components of the thin-film composite membranes has been discussed in this paper. This helps in conversion of bulky molecules into smaller ones and facilitates toward meeting environmental regulations. For economic and environmental reasons, other reuse, recycle, and disposal options must be considered and investigated. The effect of factors such as temperature, duration, radiation, and concentration of reaction media on liquefaction/depolymerization of different components of spent RO module has been presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Desalination
• reverse osmosis membranes
• depolymerization
• AOP studies
• hydrothermal processes

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Director Chemical Engg Group for giving encouragement to the program. Thanks are also given to RTDD, IRAD, RChD, and RPCD of BARC for their technical suggestions and discussions. Authors wish to express thanks to Head MDS DD and Head Analytical Chemistry Division for sample analysis. Thanks to Kum. Srija M DGFS-2018 Scholar HBNI for experimental analysis work.